Coming Home – Part XV – Chapter 57 through 60
Chapter 57 – First Sight
After much deliberation Sybil and Redmond had both decided to give their nannies a week off rather than bring them along on the trip to Ireland. Nanny Grace in particular was getting on in years, but Redmond had decided to keep her as his children's Nanny until they were grown or until the day Nanny Grace decided to retire. She was a stable female influence in their lives and was like a lion protecting her cubs if she was a trifle on the old fashioned side. Sybil had hired Nanny Margery through an agency. The woman was competent and good with the children. Jimmy's death had made Sybil want to keep a stricter eye on the children. She had gone through periods of self-doubt. Was she being too lenient a parent or too strict? She and her brothers had played on their own often enough and never come to any harm. She wondered if had she allowed Jimmy and Bobby too much leeway. The nanny helped ease her fears and the children liked having someone they could turn to when Sybil got preoccupied with her design drawings or the remodeling on the houses. In the end Sybil was happy with hiring Nanny Margery. When Russell got home they could make a final decision together if they wanted a full-time nanny.
Hans stood at the end of the receiving line to welcome Rose and Tom's older children home. He was nervous about this meeting. He knew Garret, Dylan and Bradley well and had been getting to know the younger ones since his arrival the night before. Pretend fencing had quickly become a favorite game and he had spent most of the morning in the garden playing a game of knights and damsels in distress with the little boys and girls. He had played the part of the evil Count Fiddler fending off the damsels' rescuers. He couldn't help being nervous about the oldest two who had settled in England. Not everyone was ready to let go of the animosity towards German military members so early after the war. He'd been refused service more than once in Dublin when people heard his accent. Luckily in his chosen profession his accent wasn't what counted. Garret had been mooning around all morning looking nervous. Right now he was further down the line standing between two of the younger boys and reassuring them, there was nothing to be worried about.
Hans had Aisling beside him. He couldn't help but smile to himself as the oldest son moved down the line with his two children. His children had been rehearsed in formal introductions until they were as polished as adults. The resemblance Redmond bore to Tom was striking. It was as though he were a thirty-year younger incarnation.
"This is Hans Meyer. My eldest son, Redmond," Rose introduced. Redmond extended his hand slowly to the man. He'd gotten after George Crawley about letting go of the hate and treated POW's as a doctor often enough. Standing here taking the hand of a former German pilot who was well and healthy and his parents and younger brothers considered a close friend made him take pause. Sarah had died because of a German bomb. It wasn't so easy to look the enemy in the eye and not feel anything. A set of clear blue eyes gazed back at him. Redmond decided on the spot he would sit back and take stock of the man before passing judgment.
"I have heard much about you," Hans said. "I am pleased to finally make your acquaintance."
"You certainly have made an impression on my parents and brothers," Redmond said seriously.
"A positive one, I sincerely hope," Hans replied with a slight bow.
He bowed slightly to each of the children.
Aisling was staring at Redmond with her mouth open while clutching Hans' pant leg.
"This is Aisling," Rose said. "Aisling let go of Hans and say hello to your older brother."
Aisling shook her head and pressed herself tighter against Hans.
"Have the fairies got your tongue?" Redmond asked Aisling as he crouched down to speak to her. Hans had a hand around her back trying to encourage her out from behind him.
Aisling hid her face and looked at Redmond with one eye.
"Did you know, Da can talk to the fairies? He always could when I was little. He told them one night to make me look just like him. I woke up one morning and poof there he was in the mirror."
"Daddy is that true?" Claire asked staring at her father with wide eyes. Dalaigh was looking at his father with wonder as well.
"You'll have to ask Granddad later and find out," Redmond replied.
"His name is Daddy," Aisling said quietly.
"I used to call Da, Daddy too, but it sounds a bit silly for a grown man, don't you think?" Redmond asked her. "We can talk about it later."
After Aisling had been introduced to Bradley she'd had enough. Hans picked her up then handed her off to Tom when he got through the crowd in the hall to take her. Hans turned back to see a pretty woman with dark hair somewhere in her twenties smiling at him. Her presence seemed to radiate like a beam of light making the hall seem brighter. Hans lost consciousness of where he was for a second. He'd always thought the stories of love at first sight were a load of nonsense. Women came and went and there was always another if the last one didn't work out. Now here he was staring into a pair of deep blue eyes and lost in a fraction of a second.
"I'm Sybil," she said putting out her hand. "I've heard quite a bit about you from Bradley and Garrret's letters."
He hesitated before he replied. "Hans Meyer," he said. He recovered quickly hoping no one had noticed him staring or his moment of tongue-tied silence. He took her hand and kissed it. "I have also heard a great deal about you."
"I look forward to getting to know you better," Sybil said formally then turned and introduced her daughter, ward and her sister-in-law.
Astrid's face turned bright red when Hans kissed her hand as well.
Bradley noticed the gesture and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"He does that to every girl he meets," Garret said quietly to his brother.
They all headed to the different rooms to get settled in. The single men were all in a tent in the garden with another tent for the younger boys who thought a camp out in the yard was a grand treat. The third tent was for the younger girls. Aednat had decorated it up with pink bows and some old lace curtains with the help of Aisling and Yseult to make it into a fairy tale castle for their guests who weren't much older than they were. The adults collected back in the drawing room while the younger children went for a nap except Bobby and Astrid who really wasn't a child anymore.
"Do you have a new job yet?" Bradley asked Hans. He was sitting on one side of Astrid with Garret on the other.
"I was waiting to tell until everyone was together," Hans replied. "I am now first chair violin with the Dublin symphony. I start in two weeks and I have booked two benefits and a Christmas concert with a Chamber group."
"That was quick," Garret said in surprise. His attention was diverted off Astrid for a moment.
"I would have been doing more since being in this country, but my circumstances as you know did not permit it," Hans replied.
"Have you found a place to stay in Dublin?" Tom asked him.
"The thing is Da," Dylan interjected. "We've taken a house together, the three of us."
"Not a stick of furniture or a dish in the place yet," Garret contributed.
"Didn't you think you should have perhaps discussed this with us first?" Rose questioned.
"Why? We're all adults who pay our own way," Dylan said. "I may look like a little kid but I'm not. I haven't seen the place yet."
"It is a nice house of moderate size with room to teach," Hans said. "It will work out. I was hesitant at first, but now I think it is a good idea. We will all be busy with our own lives and share expenses."
"At least tell me it's in a good part of town," Tom said resignedly.
"It's a nice area, not far from the university and a stone's throw from Dylan's office," Garret said. "It will be less than the dorm fees."
"Whom are you holding the two bedrooms for?" Sybil asked her mother to change the topic.
"Sarah's parents are coming out tonight. Her father will commute for work one or two days. Davin and Camilla will be out off and on as well," Rose said.
"Sybil we need you to give Hans a make over. He's only got one decent suit. He doesn't look anything like a concert musician," Garret said.
"Ach du lieber," Hans exclaimed with his face going red in embarrassment. "Can you not give your sister one moments peace or me either."
Redmond and Sybil both laughed along with their parents and the others present.
"It's very obvious you didn't grow up with a younger brother," Sybil said. "I'll think about it once I've had a chance to catch up on some rest. We've been traveling all night."
"We need your help decorating the house as well," Dylan told her.
Hans face was going redder with embarrassment by the moment.
"I am sure we can select a few furnishings," he said.
"I'd like to see your new house," Astrid commented.
"Perhaps we'll stop on the way back," Sybil said. "Redmond only has limited time."
"We don't have to be back in a hurry," Astrid pointed out. "We could stay a day or two longer."
"I need to get to work this summer as well," Bradley commented.
"You can stay for the summer, son. I can always use you," Tom commented.
"We'll see," Sybil said.
"They've got you cornered and I wouldn't mind you home for a bit either," Rose added with a smile.
-0-
"What is your sister's husband like," Hans asked Dylan when they were in the beds that had been set up in the "men's" tent that evening. It was a large tent with four single beds and a table for a nightstand beside each. There was an older carpet as a floor spread over the ground. Rose and Tom had done a good job raiding their friends' old servant's quarters and attics, then rented what they didn't have. They had managed to come up with a fairly comfortable accommodations for their guests. In the warm summer air it was not that much different than a bedroom. Bradley and Garret were still waiting for the washroom and hadn't come out yet.
"Russell's a right enough bloke. He's crazy for Sybil, ever since he was a kid and she's exactly the same way. He's well, he's. I don't know quite how to describe him," Dylan replied.
"A decent man who takes good care of your sister?" Hans inquired.
"That's it. He's quiet, likes to fish and ride horses and filthy stinking rich. He got drafted. He didn't volunteer. They came along and said oh by the way you work at a hospital. You're an officer now and that was it. The only reason they didn't draft Redmond was because of his heart."
"What kind of work?" Hans asked.
"Anesthesia. Why all the questions?" Dylan asked.
"No reason. I wanted to know a bit more about your sister is all."
"She's a sister who likes to sew. She makes nice shirts," Dylan mumbled as he drifted off.
Hans rolled over and pulled the covers up over his ears. Tomorrow would be another day of trying to push his feelings out of his mind. "Are you stupid?" he asked himself. "She is married with a good husband. She is taken. Take your own advice and be happy for her and accept what is." He went to sleep wondering what kind of music Sybil preferred.
-0-
"Were you really a pilot?" Bobby asked Hans over breakfast the next morning. The sideboard was set up with a selection of foods so everyone could help themself.
"Yes, I was," he replied. "I am a much better musician than a pilot though."
"Can you teach me how to fly a real airplane?" Bobby asked not to be dissuaded.
"You do not get to go in an airplane just like that," Hans said. "First you must go to ground school."
"Can't you show me a little? Please," Bobby pleaded.
"Wouldn't you rather have a music lesson?" Hans asked hopefully.
"Sybil makes me practice piano all the time and I'm not any good at it," Bobby replied. "I really want to learn how to fly a plane."
"If your mother agrees," Hans said finally. "And if you promise me you will never fly a plane that drops bombs." He could feel Redmond watching him to see what he would say.
"Sybil is my guardian not my mother. She'll say yes," Bobby said excitedly.
"If she says yes, I will show you a little," Hans said.
"I'm going to ask her right now," Bobby said excitedly.
"No. The first thing about learning to be a pilot is to know pilots get lots of sleep and eat regular meals so you will be strong enough to spend many hours in the air," Hans said. "You eat, then you go ask."
"You don't approve of bombers?" Redmond asked him.
"Does anyone except those who get paid to build the bombs?" Hans said with an exhale and a shake of his head. He didn't look up from his plate. "No, man should be asked to do these things."
Bobby shoveled his food down and went to find Sybil.
"I would much rather give him a music lesson even if he does not play well," Hans grumbled.
"You're on the hook now," Tom said with a grin. "You'll most likely have Declan, Lorcan and Rory pestering you for another fencing lesson once they've gotten dressed and had breakfast."
"You can add Dalaigh to that list," Redmond said. "The next thing I know he'll be asking for fencing lessons when I get him home."
"Music is better," Hans said. "Why do not people understand I am musician? I am not a great pilot or a fencing master. I am a musician."
"Because you're a lot more interesting to an almost twelve year old than a farmer," Tom said laughing at the look of exasperation on Hans face.
"Or a doctor for that matter," Redmond said with a slight grin.
"If I am to teach flying I will have to build a cockpit," Hans said. He finished his meal. "If you will excuse me." He cleared his spot and headed into the kitchen to round up a collection of ladles and whatever else he could find the make a pretend cockpit.
"Unusual fellow, I wondered when you wrote you had taken him in, but he seems to fit in," Redmond said to his father.
"He's harmless enough and he grows on you," Tom said. "The only violent thing I've ever heard of him doing is tossing a plate of fried potatoes out the window at the clinic before he could speak English. Broke one of Mrs. Finnegan's best plates. She still hasn't forgiven him. Good arm. He managed to lob it out an open window from the bed."
"Why didn't he go back?" Redmond asked his father.
"His family is dead son, every last one of them. There's not an Aunt, Uncle or cousin left. He only got news of his sister's death a couple weeks ago. We're the only family he's got."
"You just keep collecting them, don't you Da?"
"A few at a time," Tom replied with a twinkle in his eyes.
-0-
Garret headed through the crowd at the parish hall trying to find Astrid. Rose had decided on an Irish country-dance the second night of the family visit. There were two many people to fit in the house and she had invited half the estate. Lollan, Connal and Bryan all worked in the local area and had come along to help entertain the crowd. With Bradley and Hans around Garret didn't have to play every number. Camilla had gotten up and sang a few songs and even Sybil had gotten in on the family act and played one or two songs she knew.
Garret had been watching Astrid since she'd arrived. She was more polished than she had been when they were younger. Astrid smiled and danced with every member of his family. She had kept right on smiling like nothing was wrong when Declan stepped on her foot. He had noticed her dancing with Bradley more than once but it didn't look like anything was going on.
He'd always been a bit possessive of Astrid ever since they were children. He'd always thought of her as his. She was the girl that someday he would see again. Over the last few years in Dublin he'd gone out with a few girls, kissed a few and found out pretty quickly girls liked star musicians and would often let him do a little more than was proper. When he'd seen Astrid again he'd felt their old bond right away. She was from the world he'd been raised in when he was young. It just felt right to be around her. She was still a bit young for any kind of relationship, but at the same time there was nothing childish about the attraction he felt to her.
Astrid was accepting a drink from Hans. Dylan and Bobby were with her as well as Hans bevy of four local girls. Rosey O'Daley wasn't one of them. She had gotten married to a groom on one of the breeding farms and now had two children.
"Garret, Dylan and I were just telling Hans about the color coded sheet music system you came up with for me when I was younger," Astrid said. "I'm still using it."
"An intriguing idea," Hans commented. He smiled as he handed a glass of punch to one of the girls after Bobby had filled it.
"Bradley says it works because parts of the brain are more receptive to some colors than others," Astrid said.
"Color tames the beast," Dylan said with a wink.
"Astrid would you like to go for a walk while I have a break?" Garret asked.
"I would enjoy a breath of air, wouldn't you Bobby," Astrid said. Aisling popped out from behind Hans' legs. Garret hadn't even noticed her. Astrid took her hand.
"So much for going anywhere without an escort," Garret thought as they all stepped out of the side entrance into the cool of a summer breeze.
Chapter 58 – Two Brothers
The fourth day of the visit Redmond had gone into the city with Dr. Reigler. He had been at Rose's Irish country dance and the two men had started discussing the treatment of burns and the work Redmond was now involved in. The doctor had asked Redmond if he would be available to talk to some of the local physicians about the ongoing research and a paper that Redmond had co-authored. The Queen Victoria Hospital had already gained quite a reputation as a foremost authority on severe burns and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Reigler didn't want to miss the opportunity to have a learning opportunity from one of the doctors working there. He'd quickly put together an informal talk at the hospital in the city and the two men had headed off for the afternoon.
A large group had just returned from swimming and Astrid was sitting in the garden near the pheasant pens waiting until the washrooms in the house were a little less frantic. With such a large group there was constantly a line up. It seemed like she was always surrounded by people and she and Bradley hadn't been able to get a moment alone together. They had danced together at the parties and whispered endearments back and forth. He'd sought her out once and stolen a quick kiss before the little girls looking for her to play a game with them had interrupted them. Today she had her hair tied up with a ribbon and was enjoying the feel of the sun on her back. She didn't turn when she heard Bradley come up behind her.
"I was hoping you would come outside and join me," she said. She closed her eyes and tipped her head back. He placed a kiss on her lips. She kissed him back for a moment. The opened her eyes with a start and pushed him away.
"Garret!" she exclaimed in surprise.
"What do you think you're doing?" Bradley said from some distance away.
"Bradley, it's not what you think," Astrid said in alarm.
"What the hell is it then, when I catch you kissing my brother?" Bradley said angrily.
"I had my eyes closed, I thought it was you," Astrid said worriedly.
"What have you got to say for yourself," Bradley directed to his brother. He strode across the garden and took Astrid by the hand possessively.
"What do you mean have to say for myself? I'm making a play for a girl I like if it's any of your damn business," Garret said as a challenge to his brother.
"Astrid is my girl friend and she always has been," Bradley said angrily.
"No, she's always been my girl not yours," Garret shot back getting angry as well.
"Stop it both of you," Astrid said. She was almost in tears. "I wasn't anyone's girl friend when I was little. I'm still your friend Garret, but I'm closer to Bradley now. I don't want you fighting about this."
"He knew I liked you and always have," Garret said bitterly. "You knew and went right ahead and did as you pleased in spite of it."
"You haven't seen Astrid in years. I liked her as well. You're so damn spoiled you always want everything your own way," Bradley retorted.
Astrid wasn't sure which brother took the first swing at the other. Before she knew it the two of them were in the dirt rolling around punching each other.
"Stop it!" she screamed. She ran into the house.
"Sybil!" she called. "They're going to kill each other!"
Tom, Hans and Dylan were out the door in a second with a flock of little boys following them. Rose and Sybil ran outside as well.
Hans and Dylan pulled the two scrapping brothers apart.
"Let go of me," Garret exclaimed. "I'm going to make him eat dirt."
"You couldn't beat me if I had one arm tied behind my back," Bradley taunted him back.
"Stop this nonsense at once, the pair of you," Tom said stepping between them. "You're not too big for me to put the pair of you over my knee and paddle your backsides."
"We're both as tall as you are, Da," Bradley said getting a crooked grin on his face at the thought of his father attempting to paddle him.
"What's gotten into the pair of you?" Rose questioned. "You've never fought a day in your lives before."
"It's me, Mrs. Branson," Astrid said. "They were fighting because Bradley and I have decided to see each other."
"Stupid head," Hans murmured then slapped Garret on the back of the head.
"That about says it," Tom said sternly. "You're brothers. Brothers don't fight over women. Astrid has made her choice Garret and that's the end of it. Bradley, you knew your brother was interested in her. You should have talked to him man to man and let him know you were a couple instead of acting like a pair of naughty boys on a school ground.
"Sorry Da," Garret said shamefacedly.
"Sorry, Da," Bradley said looking at the ground.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. Astrid hasn't been giving your brother the come on. She's been nothing but polite to the pair of you," Tom said. He was still angry.
"I'm sorry Astrid," Garret said. "It won't happen again." He turned around and walked away towards the stables with his shoulders slumped and his hands pushed in his pockets.
"I'm sorry Astrid. I saw red, when I came around the corner and saw you together," Bradley said. "I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions."
"No, you shouldn't have," Astrid said with a sniff. She took Sybil's arm in hers. "I'll speak to you when you're presentable." She turned around and headed in the house with her sister-in-law.
"Give your brother some time to cool off and then you have a talk with him," Tom said to Bradley sternly.
Everyone drifted off back to what they were doing. Bradley went to get a towel and go back to the swimming hole and get some of the dirt off while he got himself settled.
Hans was almost to the tent where he was staying to get changed when he saw Garret tear off on one of the horses.
"You think you are the only one to love someone who belongs to another," he muttered under his breath. "All this time I waited and she is already married."
Bobby came out to ask Hans if he could have another flying lesson. They had a pretend cockpit drawn on three slates and an assortment of cans, boxes and kitchen utensils for the controls. Hans smiled as he guided the young boy back to the classroom. The best thing about children was they didn't seem to care what nationality he was.
-0-
That night at dinner Bradley and Garret did nothing but glare at each other from opposite ends of the table. They were having a formal family dinner and with the added guests there were twenty people at the table. Astrid had decided to eat with the children in the day nursery rather than associate with the two of them. She was still upset by being the cause of the dispute and hadn't forgiven either of them yet. By the time every one had moved through to the drawing room Tom had enough of his two sons.
"I'm settling this with the two of them. Don't wait up," he said quietly to Rose.
"Tom nothing drastic," Rose cautioned him.
"Brothers don't always agree but they need to work this out. I'll take them for a drink or two and I won't let them get into it again," he replied.
"It's a good thing neither of them are any good at fighting," Rose said. She turned to one of their guests to organize a bridge game.
"Come with me," Tom said placing a hand on Bradley's shoulder.
"Not another lecture, Da," Bradley said with a slight groan.
"You hold your tongue," Tom said. He went to collect Garret as well.
"I'm going to play the music for tonight, I'm not talking to him," Garret said nodding towards his brother who was waiting by the door.
"Hans can deal with the music without your help. Get moving or I'll have you by the collar," Tom said sternly.
They headed into the tack room at the stable. Tom closed the door then opened a box in the back corner and produced a bottle of whiskey. He set out some glasses and poured three drinks.
"I would have taken you up to one of the pubs on the main road, but the three of us would get our arses handed to us on a platter if we showed up dressed like this," Tom said.
He handed each of his son's a drink. Then took a seat.
"I remember the summer before you two left for university. Bradley told me you two were going over to the next estate to play music at Lollan's aunt's wake. Do you remember that?"
"It was a good wake," Garret said. He took a seat then took a sip of his drink. He made a face and caught his breath. "Couldn't you find something that wasn't right out of the still Da?"
"Beggars can't be choosers these days," Tom replied. "I'm surprised you didn't get your lights punched out in the pub you were really at. That crowd isn't known to take too well to the English."
"Look Da, I only said we were at a wake so you wouldn't go over there and embarrass us by pulling us out," Bradley said. He didn't know how comfortable he was with his father knowing he had been lying about their whereabouts.
"You protected your brother and you both made it home safe. I can't fault you for that," Tom said. "I'll leave this bottle with you. Don't make yourselves sick." He got up and walked out.
"You should have told me," Garret said as soon as their father had left the tack room.
"I should have and I'm sorry now I didn't," Bradley replied. "Look Garret, it's more than a childhood thing for me now. I didn't think you'd still be interested after all these years. You've said in your letters you've been going out quite a bit in Dublin."
"I have been going out. I should have asked you right out. I suspected you and Astrid were interested in each other," Garret said. He tossed back his drink and poured another. He offered the bottle to Bradley who shook his head.
"My jaw hurts enough from where you punched me," Bradley said.
"We're being stupid aren't we," Garret said.
"You stupid head. What are you thinking?" Bradley replied imitating Hans' accent. He reached for the bottle and poured another drink.
"Nein, Nein, Nein. It is not an axe you are grinding on that violin. Play properly or I will not teach you," Garret said imitating Hans as well his smile slowly faded. "Astrid is a nice girl. I'm going to try my best to be happy for you."
"I'll treat her well. I really do care for her. You'll have your own place and freedom to do whatever you like," Bradley said. "I'm going to live with Sybil. I'll be hen pecked to death before I finish school."
"You'll have your girl friend at your beck and call," Garret pointed out.
"Correction, I have a girl friend who is still at a private girl's school. When she's not we share a house with our sister, niece, our sister's ward and very soon our brother-in-law as well. They might as well have bought her a chastity belt for all the action I'll be seeing in the next while.
"You've always been my best friend," Garret said. "What the hell happened?"
"We've grown up and we live in separate countries," Bradley replied. "I'm still your best friend, unless you've found a new one."
"Have you?" Garret asked him.
"No."
"Then what are we fighting about?"
"I don't know," Bradley answered him slurring slightly.
"Let's go back and upstage Hans. It will drive him crazy," Garret said knocking back the rest of his drink then getting up to put their father's bottle of whiskey back in it's hiding place.
"Exactly how do you plan to accomplish that?" Bradley asked.
"I've got the sheet music to the latest Bing Crosby hit, I'll Be Seeing You. Everyone will love it and he'll have a fit because it is American popular garbage, written to make your brain turn rotten," Garret said with a grin.
"I've never played it before," Bradley said blinking his eyes to focus them.
"You sing, I'll play the piano. Bing Crosby eat your heart out."
"We've got to find a good stunt to pull on Rory. That kid is so bossy he's driving me crazy," Bradley commented as they walked unsteadily towards the house.
"We have got to get together more often now the war is done," Garret said.
"Definitely," Bradley replied.
-0-
Sybil was watching Hans on the trip to Dublin. Garret, Dylan and Hans were all heading back to the city, and Redmond was going home with his two children. Sybil was going into the city to stay with her brothers for a few nights and help them set up their new house after much pleading from Dylan. Rose and Tom had decided to come along for the day and see their sons' new home. Hope was so preoccupied with the Ysuelt and Aisling she had barely noticed her mother for the last week. The girls were constantly playing one game or another and were happy in a world of their own. Bradley had decided to stay at Eagle Cairn and work until his term started in a few weeks. He was busy today helping Sean take down two of the tents and return all of the borrowed housewares. Astrid wasn't feeling comfortable with Garret at the moment and had stayed back at the house as well. Rose and Tom had barely left the younger children over the winter and had thought a day out with Bradley home would be a good opportunity for them to get to know their older brother. With four adults home, the group of children had more than enough supervision for the day.
They had managed to put together a few cases of bits and pieces for the kitchen and enough linen and towels from the mountain Rose had stored for three bedrooms and the bath. The rest was all a big question mark.
"Am I looking something out of place?" Hans inquired when he noticed Sybil watching him.
"I was thinking perhaps we could come to a business arrangement," Sybil replied thoughtfully.
"Such as?"
"You require a high end wardrobe that will allow you to move in the exclusive circles. I need a model and someone with some celebrity to get my designs into the public."
"I am not a celebrity," Hans replied.
"We all know it will only be a short time and you will be well known at least in Dublin," Sybil said. "You're used to being on stage and the center of attention. You're well groomed and have that reckless, polished look that draws the women's attention young and old."
Hans' eyebrows raised in surprise. He hadn't thought Sybil had noticed him in the least as she had never said more than a few polite comments to him usually about the younger children in the family.
"It's obvious from the line up of unattached women you had waiting to dance with you at every party Mummy has thrown so far women can't take their eyes off you," Sybil continued. "Women buy for their husbands what they see and like. I'm going to start my own label soon. All exclusive one offs that appeal to the wealthy."
"I would prefer to reimburse you for your time," Hans said.
"My work is very exclusive," Sybil replied. "Really you would be doing me a favor. I had a dreadful time getting models when I was a student. I used medical students for my men's wear. The poor things almost passed out from fright on stage."
"Please, how exclusive?"
Sybil told him how much her student pieces had sold for. His eyes almost popped out of his head.
"That is in British not Irish pounds so the price would have been even higher. My more recent work was sold in boutiques for the same amount or higher and it was reproduced multiple times."
"I could not accept," Hans said.
"Two outfits for this autumn then a spring and autumn look next year," Sybil said. "You hand out my business cards if anyone inquires who did your styling, discreetly of course. You pose for pictures twice a year and perhaps make a personal appearance. If it doesn't work out then there is no harm done and I've had a model and spokesperson for the next year and a half and you've got some nice clothes to wear."
"I will agree as long as your husband does not protest," Hans replied.
"My husband is very supportive of my career. The reality of men's fashion is that I do have to work with male models. I'll get your measurements before I head back to London," Sybil said with a smile now that she had talked him around. "We can forgo the contract since you will be living with my brothers. I think I know where to find you."
"Please no stripes or these squares that are popular here. I do not like them very much."
"Squares?" Sybil asked. "Oh you mean plaid. If I use plaid it will be something sophisticated."
"Thank you," Hans replied in relief.
-0-
"I bet you didn't have to carry sheets to the laundry when you were little," Rory said to Bradley. Bradley had Rory and Lorcan helping him and Sean take down two of the tents. Declan was helping Bobby weed the garden. The little boys had wanted to keep "camping" in their tent until the company went and there still weren't enough beds in the house for everyone.
"Oh yes, I did," Bradley said. "Mummy had us making beds and helping with laundry and meals exactly the same way you are."
"Oh," Rory replied.
"Did you like having chores to do?" Lorcan asked him.
"Not always. But if you don't do them, they don't get done," Bradley said. "I still have chores living with Sybil."
Bradley headed into the house carrying a stack of blankets. The boys were following behind each with a stack of sheets for the laundry.
"Do you have a favorite place to go here?" Lorcan asked.
"I have a few," Bradley replied. "What's yours?"
"The swimming place," Lorcan said.
"I'll take you a better place tonight once we have all the chores done here at the house," Bradley said as they headed outside. Niall was with them on this trip out. The girls had tried to dress him up and he'd run away to see what the boys were doing.
"Where?" Lorcan asked.
"You'll have to wait and find out," Bradley said with a grin. He handed them each another stack of blankets, gave a smaller pile to Niall then carried in the last of them himself. "Chores and work first."
Chapter 59 – Shopping in Dublin
"Is there anything more ridiculous than a group of bachelors trying to decorate a house?" Rose asked Tom on the journey back to Eagle Cairn.
"The look on their faces when they realized they didn't have any beds or food in the house and had spent all afternoon arguing over where to put a piano they haven't purchased yet," Tom replied with a chuckle. "It was priceless when Sybil opened the box of food she'd packed for her stay with them."
"At least the place is freshly painted," Rose said. "Garret and Hans both have a week before they start work. If they put their minds and backs into it they can get the place set up with Sybil's help. I don't know how they think they're going to manage turning the dining room into a music room and most of the sitting room."
"They'll eat in the kitchen," Tom said. "Let's hope the three of them don't keep house like my brother did when he was a bachelor."
"Time will tell," Rose replied.
-0-
Garret was sitting on one of the boxes they had brought from Eagle Cairn looking through the classifieds in the morning paper while Hans washed the dishes from breakfast. Sybil had a pen and notebook out and was making out a list for the grocers of things they would need for the kitchen.
"Here's one," Garret said. "Furniture and housewares. Moving overseas. Everything must go."
"We need a piano," Hans said.
"I think you need beds more than a piano," Sybil commented. "I don't fancy another night on a pile of blankets on the floor. Why don't you circle the three most promising ones Garret? You can telephone while I select wall paper."
"Is this necessary?" Hans questioned.
"If you don't want your students and guests to think you're penniless musicians, I would say it is," Sybil replied.
"There are four that sound good," Garret said.
"Well pick out the wall paper and then see what we can find for second hand shops," Sybil said.
The three of them left for the shops down the way once the dishes were done. Dylan had left for work as soon as he'd finished breakfast. The first thing Sybil picked out when they reached the first of the shops was some cleaning supplies and a few things for the icebox. She noticed immediately there wasn't a good selection in the stores in Dublin much like London. Ships were starting to come through but staples were still in short supply.
"We've enough for today. Maybe we could get some fish from the docks for the dinner tomorrow," she commented. They went to the next shop to pick out wallpaper. Garret went to use the public telephone, as it would take a week or so to get the telephone at the house.
"Perhaps we could select a different paper for my bedroom," Hans said with his cheeks flushing slightly. "The large pink flowers make me feel sick."
"You're landlady did such a nice job of making sure everything was freshly painted and papered," Sybil said with a smile.
"For an old woman," Hans said with a slight shudder.
Sybil laughed and started looking through the wallpaper books. There was something about Hans Meyer she couldn't put her finger on. It wasn't that he was incredibly good looking. She was happily married and wasn't interested in other men. As she was getting to know Hans she was finding him easy to spend time with as though she'd known him all her life and somehow understood what he meant or needed without him having to voice it.
"I think we'll change the paper in the siting room to something less flowery as well," Sybil said. She indicated a paper in the book that was a soft greenish blue with a double stripe. "This is much more masculine. Did you have a preference in color for your room?"
"You decide," he replied.
"This?" Sybil pointed to a paper in red with a pattern in dark blue and gold on it. It screamed a man lives here.
"Yes, this is much better," Hans replied.
They met Garret back on the street with the pile of groceries, wallpaper and papering equipment. He had two places lined up for them to take a look at furniture. They went to drop off their shopping. Hans decided to stay at the house and start stripping the flowered wallpaper while Sybil and Garret went shopping.
Two hours later a lorry pulled up at the door. Garret was with them. He came through the door carrying an elaborate fireplace screen. Two men wearing jumpers were behind him carrying a leather armchair. Hans watched in stunned silence as the men carried in two leather chairs, a sofa, lamps, rugs, an assortment of side tables, armoires, a small kitchen table and four chairs, a desk and two double beds with dark wood frames.
"How much did you spend," Hans said once the men had been paid and left. "Where is your sister?"
"She's still shopping," Garret replied with a shrug. "She's rather a tight wad despite being loaded. We're not even through half the funds we all put in yet and she's still going. We're supposed to meet her for lunch."
They arrived at the teashop to find Sybil already there. She had a small local newspaper and was going over the ads.
"There you are," she said as the men joined her. "I have another bed being delivered at five. Look at this ad here." She pointed to a column where musical instruments were being advertised.
"It might be promising," Garret said.
"What is this Closing Out?" Hans asked.
"It means they are closing the business," Sybil said. "We might be able to find something of use and talk the owners down if you see something you want."
"I'll probably want it all," Garret said with a grin.
Dylan arrived home that evening to spot Sybil and the two other men coming down the street with their hands full. Garret was carrying two antique wooden music stands while Hans had a large box in his arms. Sybil was carrying an assortment of picture frames.
"Busy day?" Dylan asked.
"And then some," Garret replied. They all went in to be greeted by the pile of furniture sitting in the middle of the sitting room.
"Dinner once the three of you have moved the table and chairs into the kitchen and scrubbed it down," Sybil said. "Then we'll start sorting some of this out."
"I thought Hans was a shark until I went shopping with Sybil," Garret told Dylan while they were scrubbing the table before dinner. "She went trotting up to the attic storage and pried the last load of stuff out of a shop owner who was going out of business for free. She had him thinking she was doing him a favor by taking a piano off his hands for next to nothing."
"She probably was. He didn't have to pay to cart it away," Dylan said.
"That's just it. She got the poor bloke to throw in the delivery as well."
"What's in the latest box?" Dylan asked.
"Sheet music, stacks of it. She cleared out his store room, didn't pay a cent and Hans was happy as a clam not saying a word."
"I told you Sybil would get the place set up in two minutes," Dylan said. "I'm glad I talked her into it."
At eleven o'clock that evening Garret looked at his brother.
"Are you still glad you talked Sybil into helping us?" Garret asked. They had finished setting up the furniture in two of the bedrooms, arranged the sitting room and put the majority of furniture in place. Hans' bed was sitting in the middle of the dining room waiting until his room was repapered. The three men were scrubbing the last of the old wallpaper paste off the walls.
"Ask me again in a few days," Dylan said tiredly.
-0-
Russell Beldon flopped on his bunk in exhaustion after yet another long day with no hot water for a shower at the end of it. He was currently stationed near the border between Holland and Germany He was worn out from long hours and the years of war. The military casualties had mostly all been sent on for treatment in England. Now they were treating civilians. There were people suffering from starvation in droves. There were some cases that were so severe they had to be fed through a tube. Their veins were collapsed and trying to get an intravenous needle inserted was next to impossible.
All he wanted at the moment was to go home. He'd barely seen his wife in the last five years. His daughter was growing up and he was missing all of it. The news of his adopted mother being killed had hit him hard. He should have been there to provide guidance to the boys, but he was stuck here doing the same thing over and over. It was mind numbingly repetitive and at the same time he had a sense of being part of something bigger than himself where there was always something happening.
He got up again after lying on his bunk less than ten minutes. He'd been restless this last while. He was waiting for his release to come through and it felt like he was playing a game of hurry up and wait. It had all added up to a bad case of insomnia. Russell got dressed and decided to head to the Officer's Club to see what was going on.
He stepped into the dimly lit room to the sound of different accents and the jukebox playing the same tune it had for the last two months. The place was half full and the female nurses each had at least four men buzzing around them trying to buy them drinks.
"A pint," Russell ordered when he got to the bar, then remembered the American's were running the Officer's Club when the man gave him a look. "A beer," he corrected.
"Ruuuuussssseellll," he heard in a loud-pitched scream of excitement coming across the room towards him. He looked up to see Beth from his training days coming straight for him. He hadn't seen her in years. He stood up and hugged her when she threw her arms around his neck.
"Beth, longtime no see. When did you get here?" he asked.
"Just arrived," she said. "We're heading into Germany as part of the mopping up. We'll be off tomorrow. I don't want to talk about that. Tell me all your news."
"I'll buy you a drink first," he said.
"Sherry," she ordered. "Come and sit with the girls."
"You still won't be able to make me into one of the girls," he said with a smile.
"We'll let you in our club," she said.
"What club is that?"
"Nurses who don't date doctors," she laughed and led him across the room.
"An old school chum," Beth said as she introduced him to everyone as he took a seat.
"Do you hear from any of the old crowd?" he asked.
"Funny I was about to ask you the same thing. All of our classmates I've kept in touch with are all over here somewhere or other," Beth said. "Unless they were sensible and got married before the war started."
"Didn't do me any good," Russell said. "I still got drafted. We think Nigel is a POW under the Japanese occupation. Peter lost a leg. He was with one of the early field hospitals in Italy."
"Have you heard anything of Derek?" Beth asked him.
"He was killed some time ago in North Africa."
"No," Beth said. Her mood turned suddenly sad. "The poor devil. What about you? Are you still married to the dark haired girl of mystery?"
"Nothing very mysterious about my wife," Russell replied. "We have a daughter and a ward now, an evacuee boy whose family died. Sybil has gone to Ireland for a few weeks to visit her family before I get back."
"What about her brother? He was always such a quiet one," Beth asked.
"Widower with two children these days," Russell said. "He decided to become a reconstructive surgeon."
"You're making me feel old when I want to feel gay," Beth said. "Time for a twirl around the floor?"
Russell nodded and got up with a smile on his face. He'd always liked Beth when she was on her own away from the other girls and their endless gossip. He couldn't help noticing how nice it felt to hold a woman in his arms while they danced. His life in England seemed so far away at the moment almost like another lifetime. Beth smiled when they bumped into another couple and caught his arm with her hand. Russell looked at her. He noticed the flecks of color in her eyes and how her eyebrows arched always giving her a look of wonder like she'd just gotten a surprise. She pushed herself up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the mouth. She pulled back slowly when Russell didn't move.
"We could get out of here and find somewhere private," she whispered.
For a moment temptation flared in his mind, his body was screaming yes but his mind was telling him no.
"I…I've got a few things to attend to," Russell said. The smile was gone from his face. He released her quickly. "If you'll excuse me."
"Don't be a stranger," she said before he made a quick exit out of the room.
Russell got back to his quarters. He stood looking at his locker then knocked his head against the doors a few times.
"You're a married man with a wife who loves you waiting for you," he told himself. He got himself together then grabbed his hat from where he'd tossed it on the small desk in his quarters.
Russell entered the administrative offices of the field hospital located in a large tent in the center of the compound. He waited in line nervously.
"Can I help you Captain?" the master sergeant at the desk asked him.
"I was wondering if there was any word on my release," Russell inquired.
The master sergeant went to pull Russell's file from the cabinets.
"Says here Anesthesia Specialist," the master sergeant said.
"That's right," Russell replied.
The man went and checked another batch of papers.
"Wait right here," he said. The master sergeant disappeared into another area of the tent. A corporal came and dealt with the next person waiting in line. Russell was fidgeting nervously thinking the master sergeant had forgotten him twenty minutes later. Finally the man reappeared with a stack of papers, went to his desk and stamped them, then came back to Russell.
"You are in luck," the master sergeant said. The major was in and signed your orders. There's a medical transport leaving in an hour, Sir. I suggest you best get yourself packed and get on it."
"Where are you sending me?" Russell asked with a feeling of dread.
"Home. Surgical team reduction, the orders came through a few hours ago. You'll be done once you make it back to England. Here's a chit for the pay office and another for the billeting officer. You best get a move on and make sure you stop at supply and get signed off there."
"Thank you, for this," Russell said.
"It's my job, Sir," the master sergeant said.
Russell dashed back to his quarters. He stuffed his things into his duffel bag as fast as he could. He wanted to run between the billeting office, supply to return his equipment and a stop at the pay office but kept his cool and plotted the quickest distance between locations. He just made it to the transport as they were about to pull out. He climbed in the back of a lorry and had to stand and hold onto the rails at the top for the first part of the journey when there wasn't room to sit. He didn't care. He was going home and it was over.
-0-
"How did the house decorating go?" Rose asked Sybil when she returned from the city. Sybil had taken the train and a cab from the station rather than bother her father for a ride.
"The place is almost in order. They finished papering the two rooms yesterday. They still need the odd thing like bedside rugs and one set of draperies and maybe a few chairs for the yard and the music room but I think they can managed that much themselves," Sybil replied. "Where are Hope and Bobby?"
"The girls and Niall have just gone down for a nap," Rose replied. "They've all worn themselves out playing. Bradley introduced the boys to his favorite fishing spot. Astrid's taken them there for a picnic. When the boys aren't playing knights, they're busy attempting to catch fish and floating leaf boats on the stream."
"Digging for worms in the manure pile as well I'd wager," Sybil said with a curl of her nose. "Bradley would show them that."
"They're little boys. They can figure that out without a lot of encouragement," Rose said. "I hope your brothers and Hans didn't give you a hard time while you were in Dublin. Hans can be a bit of a handful at times."
"Not at all. Dylan was happy to have my help. I used his drawings and paintings for the artwork on the walls. I had to nag Garret a bit once the piano was delivered. Hans seems happy to have his own place. He wouldn't let me lift a finger as far as moving furniture or hanging pictures. As soon as the music room was furnished he was so occupied organizing sheet music into the bookcase, I barely heard a peep out of him. He had students coming today so I headed for the station."
"You didn't find Hans haughty and difficult?" Rose asked in surprise.
"No, why would I? He certainly is good with the children," Sybil replied. "Where has Daddy got off to today? I might ride out and catch up with him since Hope is fast asleep and probably won't be awake for the next three hours."
"Southwest pastures, I believe he said," Rose replied. "I might as well get changed and come along. Bradley won't be in from the fields for hours yet."
Chapter 60 – The Homecoming
Russell Beldon walked up the street of what he thought must be the one Evans House was on in London. The street signs had been taken down during the war and he was slightly disoriented. The neighborhood looked different than when he was here last. There were metal sheets from bomb shelters sitting on the curb waiting to be collected and there were a number of places where there was rubble where houses had been. He finally found the right door, climbed the steps and rang the bell. He waited long enough he thought no one was home before the door finally opened. The butler was standing there in casual clothes and covered with dust and dirt.
"Sir," he said when he recognized Russell. "We weren't expecting you."
"I wanted my return to be a surprise," Russell said entering the door. "Is Mrs. Beldon home?"
"Mrs. Beldon has extended her stay in Ireland, Sir, while the remodeling was going on."
Russell looked around in surprise. All the furniture was pushed into the center of the rooms and covered with dust cloths. There was a ladder in the sitting room. The house looked unlived in.
"No matter," Russell said. "Is there a room in good enough shape to sleep in?"
"Actually, Sir, there isn't. I'll see to putting one of the rooms in order."
"If you would be so kind," Russell said. He went upstairs to the room he normally shared with Sybil and uncovered the armoire. There were a few of Sybil's dresses hanging there but there wasn't a trace of his civilian clothing anywhere. He went back out on the landing.
"Do I have any clothing here?" Russell asked the housekeeper. She was heading up to the room with an armful of linens followed by the butler. She was dressed casually like the butler.
"I don't believe so, Sir," the housekeeper replied. "Most of the family's personal possessions were destroyed in the blast at Horsham."
"Damn," Russell swore under his breath.
"We're just in the process of removing the shelter from the back garden, Sir. I'm sorry for all the mess," the housekeeper said.
"Think nothing of it," Russell said. He was feeling somewhat disappointed with his lack luster homecoming. "Things need to be put in order."
"Mrs. Beldon was planning to have everything done before you arrived home, Sir," the housekeeper said.
"I'm sure she was. I'll be back later. Don't bother with meals. I'll eat out," Russell said.
"Yes, Sir, will there be anything else?" the housekeeper asked him.
"Nothing," Russell replied. He went downstairs and out the front door. "I'll turn myself back into a civilian at least a little," he said to himself. He was pretty sure Sybil would want to pick out every last detail of his wardrobe the way she always did, but he needed at least two shirts, a jacket and pants for the next few days. If he never saw olive drab again it would be too soon. He couldn't wait to get rid of the uniform. He thought about taking the train down to Horsham once he had something different to wear to see what was left of their cottage and a trip north to say hello to his father.
"Happy bloody homecoming," he said aloud as he headed to the shops.
-0-
"Did you both have fun visiting Grandmamma and Granddad?" Sybil asked the children. Sybil, Astrid and the two children were on their way to Dublin. Sybil was going to drop off some handmade rugs she had picked up at one of the country markets in Galway and get Hans measurements before they headed back to England.
"I'd like to visit again if we may," Bobby replied.
"Granny likes Aisling and Ysuelt," Hope said while she was looking out the window.
"Granny is gone to heaven, Hope," Sybil reminded her. Hope had a tendency to talk about Russell's parents as if they were still alive. She'd been doing it a lot more recently.
"She said they were nice," Hope replied not giving up. She had turned to look directly at her mother. "Grandpa said he liked to play knights and dragons too."
"You mean Granddad," Sybil corrected.
"You don't understand, Mummy," Hope said. She went back to looking out the window.
Garret opened the door when they knocked. Hope was already starting to tire from the trip. Garret flushed slightly at the sight of Astrid standing on the step with the others then stepped back so they could enter.
"Where are all your things?" Garret asked. The sound of a music lesson could be heard coming through the closed doors of the dining room.
"We checked everything through to the ferry," Sybil replied. "I've brought you some handmade rugs to make things cozier."
"You're spoiling us as usual," Garret said taking the bundle from Bobby. "I can't say I was looking forward to cold floors first thing in the morning this winter. Can I get you a cup of tea or anything?"
"I'll just take Hope up to the washroom," Sybil said. "She needs a bit of a rest."
"Do you want to have a nap in Uncle Garret's room or Uncle Dylan's?" Garret asked her.
"I want to sleep where it isn't messy," Hope said earnestly.
"Uncle Dylan's room it is then," Garret said with a chuckle. "We'll put one of these rugs your mother has brought in there first. Make yourselves at home. I'll be right back." He said to Astrid and Bobby.
Astrid walked into the sitting room. She could see Sybil's hand in the decorations right away. The room had a grouping of chairs and sofa near the fireplace with a baby grand piano at the other end of the room. The colors and furnishings were masculine but with a woman's touch in the small details of paintings hanging on the walls and framed family pictures sitting on the mantle. Sybil had arranged the room so there was a small amount of floor space left. There wasn't a lot as it wasn't that big a house but there was more than adequate for extra chairs for a music group or piano lessons.
Garret came back down quickly carrying one of the rugs Sybil had brought.
"How was the train?" he asked Astrid.
"Early and dusty," she replied. "This seems like a very nice house, Garret."
"It's not huge like we were all raised with but it does the trick for what we need," Garret replied. "The kitchen and yard are through this way." Garret spread the last rug in front of the kitchen sink, and then showed them out to the yard.
"This is the one place we managed to come up with a table and chairs on our own," he said. There was a small round table with an assortment of mismatched chairs sitting around it.
"You don't have any vegetables," Bobby said right away.
"It's too late to plant vegetables. Maybe next spring," Garret replied.
"You could plant potatoes," Bobby pointed out.
"There's no point. Hans hates them," Garret said.
"Where did you get this assortment?" Sybil asked as she came out to join them.
"Roadside discards, where else," Garret replied with his dimples showing. "We're determined not to spend anymore on furniture. It's only a garden."
"It looks rather charming," Astrid said.
"The chairs double up when I need extra for piano lessons," Garret commented. "We put the two nicest ones we found in the music room. I'll get some tea if you'd like to sit out here. Hans will be another ten minutes."
"We might as well sit outside. It's a nice day," Sybil replied. Bobby was already busy poking around the flowers that were left from the previous tenants and pulling weeds.
Hans came out carrying a tray with cups and a teapot, he greeted Astrid formally as well as Sybil. Bobby came running over to him right away to be spun around. Hans set him down and took a seat. Garret came out of the house with a plate of deviled eggs and toast triangles.
"Sorry nothing too elaborate on our budget," Garret said.
"When do you start your summer job?" Astrid asked him.
"Tomorrow," Garret replied.
"I have already started at my new post. Rehearsal today is in the evening," Hans commented.
"I need to take your measurements," Sybil said.
"You do not have to do this for me," Hans said. "You have done too much already. I assume the rug in the kitchen is from you?"
"There's one in each bedroom as well," Garret said.
"You have to remember you're helping me as well," Sybil said. "You might regret it all when I have you sitting in front of a photographer all day or talk you into a personal appearance."
A short while later Hans closed his eyes while Sybil measured him this way and that. He hoped he hadn't let on how her presence affected him over the last two weeks. Treating her in anyway but with a polite distance wasn't appropriate. She was one of the very few women close to his own age he had ever met who was completely faithful to her husband in everyway. If she did have any thoughts of a romantic nature towards him or anyone else, she never let on from what he had observed.
As Sybil measured and recorded the numbers she couldn't help but think it wouldn't be long before Hans had a girlfriend or got married. She was surprised he wasn't already taken after all the time he had been in Ireland.
"Would you mind taking off your shirt," she said. "The extra bulk of the fabric throws the fit off."
He obligingly undid his shirt and tossed it on one of the kitchen chairs. It was the middle of summer and he wasn't wearing an undershirt. Sybil couldn't help but notice that he was in good shape and the muscles in his chest and arms were well defined. The hair on his chest and arms was fine and added to his overall rugged appeal. There wasn't a single hair on his back, which made him an excellent choice for a live model. She'd seen him without a shirt at the family swim parties but up close he was definitely even better looking.
"Only a few more minutes," she said as she measured his chest, waist, across his back, then measured the length of his arm when it was slightly bent. He was enjoying the slight brush of her hands across his skin. He was thinking if she were his he would have had her halfway to the bedroom by now.
"Now I need to measure your bicep so I don't accidentally make the sleeves too narrow," she said. She measured his bicep and wrist and added the measurements to the list.
"Shoe size," she asked.
"You will not buy shoes for me." Hans snapped out of his daydreaming. He tossed his head back with stubborn determination.
"A look is head to toe," Sybil said ignoring his resistance. "I'll bring the clothes and set up a photo shoot so you'll know exactly what goes with what when I have everything ready. Now what is it?"
Hans took the pencil and wrote down his shoe size.
"Anymore questions?" he asked while he put his shirt back on.
"That should do for now," Sybil replied. "I'll let you know when I'm prepared and we can set up a time for your photos."
"I do not have any say?" he asked with a slight smile.
"I'm the designer. You'll have to be happy with what I come up with," Sybil replied.
-0-
Everyone was exhausted by the time they got a cab from the station to Evans House. Hope had started fussing before they got off the ferry. Sybil had planned to stop in Downton for a visit with the aunts and find out how the work on the Abbey was going so she could tell George all about it on her next visit to him in hospital, but she'd changed her mind and decided to come straight home. Hope had a wonderful time in Ireland and had all sorts of long naps but she was still over tired. She'd slept at Garret's, most of the ferry crossing and then on the train as well but the moment she woke up she was cranky. Sybil thought the best place for her was home in her own bed. The station in London had been busy and the crush of strangers had made Hope even more tired.
"I ever so hope the painting and repairs are finished," Astrid said with a tired sigh when she stepped out of the cab.
"There's been more than enough time," Sybil said. She got out of the cab behind Bobby then turned back to lift Hope into her arms.
Astrid went ahead of them to ring the bell. They hadn't called the house to say they were coming, as they hadn't been sure how long they were going to stay in Dublin and which ferry they would catch. One of the peculiarities of new tenancy was Garret and Dylan's telephone hadn't been installed yet.
The butler quickly came out to see to the luggage and pay the driver as soon as he opened the door. Nanny Marjory appeared at the top of the stairs and came down as well to take over with her charges.
"A light snack, baths and into bed for both of them," Sybil instructed her. "See to Miss Hope first, please. She's worn herself out and don't worry about what time she gets up in the morning. If she sleeps late, let her."
"Yes, Mrs. Beldon," Nanny Marjory said taking Hope from her. "Was there anything else?"
"Call me if there are any problems, she's a bit fractious," Sybil replied. Sybil turned to the butler. "Are the painting and alterations completed?"
"Yes, Mam. The grass has been seeded in the garden and the house is in order."
"Grass! There is nothing more useless than grass," Sybil said. "Don't you dare put a drop of water on that seed. Who ever got the bright idea to put grass seed in my garden will have to answer to me." She was worn out herself and she had left explicit instructions not to plant grass. The first thing through the door and her back was already up.
"When did you develop an aversion to grass?" Russell asked. He came through from the garden. He'd been watering the seed he'd put down.
"Russell!" Sybil said in surprise. She dashed over and embraced him. "What are you doing here, oh I don't care. I'm just glad you're here."
"I thought you'd be happy about the grass," Russell said after he'd kissed Sybil thoroughly and hugged his sister. Bobby had already headed upstairs. Astrid went up as well after she greeted her brother.
"Everything is still rationed. We have to put the garden into vegetables next spring, all of it. We can't afford the luxury like grass at the moment and I've developed quite a strong dislike for it," Sybil replied hugging him again. "It doesn't matter, if it grows we'll pull it up again."
"How was Ireland?" Russell asked.
"Fun, long and tiring," Sybil replied. "I wasn't expecting you for another month at least."
"I came home early for a surprise," he said. "It was me who got the surprise."
"I'm sorry, darling," Sybil said. "We were going to have streamers up and have a party for you. Here we are all tired and dragging in the door instead of bright and cheerful."
"We'll go out and take the children with us," Russell said with a smile. He had his arms around Sybil. "We'll make a family party of it now that you're home."
"Not tonight," Sybil replied. "It was a long trip and Hope is cranky. She needs to sleep it off and we're all tired."
"A romantic dinner for two then?" Russell asked hopefully.
"That we can do," Sybil agreed.
The next afternoon Sybil had a kneeling pad on the ground in the back garden and was using a garden trowel to scrape the thick layer of grass seed off the ground and dump it into a bucket. Russell's homecoming wasn't what she thought it would be. She was very glad to have him home, but he had been home a week and managed to thoroughly countermand the orders she had left for how she wanted things done at the house. The grass seed was irritating Sybil no end and she wanted it gone. She didn't know why it was bothering her so much but it was.
The part of the downstairs she had wanted turned into her office and workroom hadn't been done when her husband had decided he didn't like the idea of dividing their living space and having a business in the house. He'd had the rooms put back to the way they were. About the only thing Russell had agreed to was to upgrade the wiring in the house and the new kitchen appliances. She had selected green for their bedroom walls and he had informed her he never wanted to see a green wall or wear green again as long as he lived. They now had a bedroom that was painted in what Sybil considered the most hideious shade of dark violet she'd ever seen in her life.
This morning Hope had taken one look at her father and not recognized him. She wasn't interested in hugging him and had run back to nanny the moment Russell tried to go anywhere near her.
"I told you she's fractious and worn out from the trip," Sybil said with a sigh when Russell told her what had happened. "It was such a large group and so many new faces it was too much for her most of the time."
"Didn't she have naps," Russell demanded.
"I keep our daughter up all the time deliberately to make her overtired," Sybil snapped. She was still tired herself.
"I'm sorry that was uncalled for," he said. "Who is this Count Fiddler Hope mentioned? She said I wasn't Count Fiddler and ran off."
"A friend of my parents and my younger brothers. He was at the family get together. He knows how to fence so he made up a game of knights and dragons for the children. Hope was one of the damsels trapped in the tower, also known as the bench in my parents' garden. They all took quite a shine to him."
"He's a Count?"
"No, he's a violinist."
Bobby had come down to do his practice on the piano while they were talking.
"Hans taught me to fly," he told Russell. "He's a pilot."
"A pilot named Hans. Don't tell me he's a German," Russell said.
"Daddy found him broken up in a field. He's a musician really. They sort of adopted him into the family," Sybil said. "He's nice enough."
"You allowed my children to associate with a German pilot?" Russell asked angrily.
"He was interned for years. He's a violinist. I told you that," Sybil said. "He's really quite a nice man."
"A bloody Gerry. You've been letting my daughter play with a Gerry and your parents invited him to a family celebration?"
"What of it?" Sybil said.
"The Germans killed my mother and father and the boy you were supposed to be looking after."
"Bobby, go upstairs," Sybil said. Bobby rushed off back up the stairs. He knew from the tone in Sybil's voice that she was angry.
"The bomb that killed Jimmy and your mother was English. It came off a crippled English aircraft. What difference does it make if the bomb was English or German? They're dead. How dare you accuse me of not looking after Jimmy properly? How dare you! I take very good care of our daughter and Bobby and your sister and I did of Jimmy too. He had lots to eat, went to school, had friends and was happy. Where were you when I was taking care of him? And how dare you walk into this house and countermand all the decisions I made about this house and how I want to run my business! On top of it all you put stupid bloody grass seed in the garden. What do you think we're going to eat? Hay!"
Sybil got up and headed towards the back of the house.
"Where do you think you're going?" Russell demanded.
"To scrape up your grass seed before it gets a chance to start and I have to spend a week undoing something that would have been just fine if you had left it alone," Sybil yelled. She slammed the door behind her hard enough the pictures on the walls rattled.
She had about half the grass seed scraped off the yard when Russell came out to join her. He didn't say a word, went to the garden shed for a trowel and a bucket and started scrapping up the seed as well.
"I'm sorry I put the seed down," he said. "I didn't think."
"There should be vegetables left at Hadley Hall when the military pulls out in September," Sybil said. "We'll seed potatoes out here in the next few days. We might get a late crop. We lost everything we had planted for this winter in the blast. The boys weren't unsupervised. I had only gone to see Aunt Mary and Grandmamma off at the train and stopped at the post office. I was only gone twenty minutes or so and you're mother was home."
"I didn't mean to blame you," Russell said.
"You do blame me. You wouldn't have said it if you didn't," Sybil replied. "I'll get the hoe and dig what's still on top under if you finished scrapping the seed up."
"The garden on the site of the cottage is a good idea. It was well underway when I went down to see the place."
"It's a wonder you didn't cancel that too," Sybil huffed.
"You're still angry," Russell said.
"I didn't make the decisions about the house lightly. I can understand holding off on painting the bedroom green if you really have an aversion to green, but to stop construction on everything I decided on and question my judgment about our children. Yes, I'm angry. I'm very angry."
"I wanted things to be how they were," Russell said.
"Things aren't like they were. Nothing is ever going to be like it was again," Sybil replied. "You can finish this. I'm going to go and take a bath."
"Sybil, I'm sorry," he said when she was almost in the door.
Sybil nodded and let the door close behind her. It was going to take a lot more than a few simple words to make up for the pain her husband's words had caused.